PRIME SPORTS PULLS THE PLUG ON ITS UPPER MIDWEST OPERATIONS

PRIME SPORTS PULLS THE PLUG ON ITS UPPER MIDWEST OPERATIONS

Published October 6, 1995

Prime Sports announced this week it will close its Upper
Midwest operations effective December 31, according to the
Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. Prime Spokesman Craig Kuhl said the
network's owners, Hubbard Broadcasting, Upper Midwest Cable
Partners and Affiliated Regional Communications, no longer think
the region offers "viable business" considering that Midwest
Sports Channel holds the rights to the region's teams. After the
network ends its service to MN, and parts of IA, WI and ND, it
will "shift its resources" to growing systems in the St. Louis
and Rocky Mountain areas. Kuhl on the region: "If you don't have
the Twins or Gophers or Timberwolves, it doesn't make sense"
(Rachel Blount, Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/5).